Published on: 27/10/2026
I wonder what your church community is planning for Advent and Christmas? Perhaps you’ll be running an Advent course, buying countless oranges for a Christingle service or opening the church late on Christmas Eve for midnight Communion.
The Christmas season is a fantastic opportunity for churches – not only to reach new people with Jesus’ message of hope, but also to help regular members of the church to grow deeper in their discipleship. As I write this, we’re coming to the end of October and I know that lots of churches will be making plans for December. How might you make the most of the opportunities Christmas brings?
Making the most for mission
Last December, research published by Tearfund suggested that 45% of adults in the UK were planning to attend a church service or event over Christmas 2025. Many churches across our Diocese can expect to see more people attend in December, including those who might not consider themselves to be Christians.
So how can your church make the most of this season when it comes to mission? Here are three things you might like to consider:
- Is your ‘A Church Near You’ webpage up to date?
Even if your church has its own website or Facebook page, it’s a good idea to make sure your church’s ACNY page is up to date because the Church of England’s social media content during December will point people towards using this website to find out about local services and events. See this article published last year about engagement with ACNY.
2. Will your services and events be accessible?
It’s important to think about how accessible your Christmas services and events will be – both for those who are unfamiliar with church and for people with additional needs and/or disabilities. Here is a list of hints and tips to help you make your services more accessible. Think about the particular needs of your community and start there.
3. What’s the next step?
At our Diocesan Development Day earlier this month, the Rt Revd Rhiannon King, Bishop of Southampton, encouraged us to think about discipleship pathways – ways for people to move forward on their journey of faith. Many people at our Christmas services will be new to Christian faith or just beginning to wonder what it might mean for them. What could you invite people to in the new year as a way for them to continue on the journey they start at Christmas? Could you run an Alpha Course or something similar in the new year? Or if you have a Christmas event for children and families, could you invite them to your next Messy Church or family service?
Making the most for discipleship
As well as reaching those who are new to faith, Advent and Christmas is a time to nurture the faith of existing church members. The annual re-telling of how God came to be with us – of Jesus as the light in our darkness – can inspire us anew in our faith and remind us of our calling to be Lights for Christ in the world today. For discipleship resources to use with your congregation this December, visit www.sheffdio.org/advent or have a look at the Church of England’s resources for this year.
This week’s Blog post was written by Hannah Sandoval, Lights for Christ Enabler.